PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. xli 



benefit to the community. Among subjects which may be 

 suggested for investigation may be mentioned the cause and 

 the prevention of the corrosion of lead pipe, the breakage of 

 steel rails, the waterproofing of cement structures, the utiliza- 

 tion of wastes which now involve nuisance and the preserva- 

 tion of iron fences and sheet iron in our climate. 



Nothing will convince the average man of the industrial 

 value of research half so quickly as the actual solution of the 

 particular problems by which the individual manufacturer is 

 confronted and perplexed. 



In conclusion, before vacating the presidential chair, 

 allow me once more to thank you sincerely for the honor con- 

 ferred upon me in again electing me to the highest office in 

 the gift of the Institute. 



I have much pleasure in opening the forty-sixth session. 



It was announced that J. F. WHITEAVES, LL. D., F. G. S., 

 F. E. S. C., etc., palaeontologist, zoologist and assistant 

 director of the Geological Survey of Canada, Ontario, had 

 been elected a corresponding member. 



The librarian's report was presented by MR. PIERS, show- 

 ing that 1756 books and pamphlets had been received by the 

 Institute through its exchange-list during the year 1906 ; and 

 1,440 had been received during the ten months (January to 

 October) of the present year, 1907. The total number of books 

 and pamphlets received by the Provincial Science Library 

 (with which the books of the Institute are incorporated) dur- 

 ing the year 1906, was 2,835. The number of books borrowed 

 in 1906 was 661, as against 539 in the previous year. Refer- 

 ence was also made to the desirability of having restored to 

 the library the annual grant which it had received from the 

 ^government previous to 1905. The report was received and 

 adopted. 



The secretary reported that durinj the past year no meet- 

 ings had been held by the King's County Branch of the Insti- 

 tute, and it would have to be considered as having ceased to 

 exist. 



